Canadian singer-songwriter Marshall Dane is a natural born storyteller whose journey has been shaped by a life full of victories and setbacks. He doesn’t shy away from sharing his vulnerabilities and emotions, making him and his music both relatable and heartfelt. His unique blend of country, rock and singer-songwriter has, to date, earned him five nominations for Male Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario awards.

What sets Marshall apart is his use of American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with the Deaf community. As the son of a minister, he was raised with a strong sense of compassion and inclusivity. Since learning ASL in 2017, he has been incorporating the language into his performances to break down barriers and make his music accessible.

He co-wrote his new single, “No Need To Speak,” with award-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT). “The motive was my appreciation, understanding and conviction that we don’t need words to understand each other. We just need to pay attention, use our eyes, our hearts,” says Marshall. “If there’s someone you love and you need them to know how strongly you feel, that they can count on you in that moment, this song will support you.”

Watch + share the official “No Need To Speak” music video: https://youtu.be/9vpJHY5Bne4

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? This song was inspired by my relationships within the Deaf community. The values added to my life from learning Sign Language include the desire to stay connected to people visually, looking them in the eyes and letting them know I understand. The decsion to include an ASL interpreter directly in the video as opposed to in a seperated box in the top corner, was to show the intent that this wasn’t an after thought, but rather, the whole thought…this was the intent, to show the Deaf and Hearing communities the bond I feel when using Sign Language.

2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
   
   After shooting my last video and putting Vera’s interpretation in a frame in the top right corner of the frame, I started to feel like I wanted her directly in the video for this one…maybe all videos, going forward. The location and scene set up was conceptualized by my writing partner Rosanne Baker Thornley. The scene set as a living room couch in the middle of a field with side tables and lamps, set the mood for the conversation between Vera and Myself…that we would stay connected, not turn away from each other, and do our best to understand what the other is saying. I had no idea how beautiful Artem Mykhailetskyi would make the final piece of art look, but it’s exactly what I envisioned. We knew we would have the sun sitting behind the couch at approximately 4pm…and we’d have no sun by 5:25…so we stayed focused and were efficient with our time….runnning back and forth the the vehicles to warm up in between takes.

3. What was the process of making this video?
   
   The video took place on a freezing cold, 40km winds, wintery November day in 2023. With a limited indie budget, we had a crew of 3, myself and Vera (ASL interpreter). With a borrowed farm field and everyone bringing items to recreate a living room scene in the back 40, we rehearsed our plan, and with 5 takes only, we captured the entire video as the sun fell. We had 1 hour and 15 minutes to shoot during the desired sun positioning. Although we gave Artem (Video Director) the instruction to keep Vera’s hands present in the composition of the shot, we let him have free reign on “how to shoot’ her hands…which took the ‘typical’ filming of ASL interpretation from the linear, head on framing usually seen in broadcasts, which led to the beautiful and flowing style that Artem used to capture Veras words as he swept in and out of frame.

Being in a band with family is not always easy; a relationship impacted by years of familiarity and family dynamics. The duo, aptly named Jackie and her brother, decided to work on several songs that remained unfinished and forgotten. The result is a new project from Jackie and Mark Andrade. The name, Jackie and her brother, is a simple way to describe their dynamic and their shared love for catchy, pop-inspired bands that they listened to across different decades as they grew up.

We often wonder, and reflect on our life. It’s a healthy part of being human. We’re also told to stay in the present and live for the future. This dichotomy pulses at the centre of their second single, “Best Days,” where Jackie and her brother turn the focus backward wondering if our best days are already gone.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? 

I wrote these lyrics during a dark time in life when I truly considered that all my best days had already happened. In the two years to come, I realized that things were only getting better and better everyday. Whenever my brother and I talk about life and where we came from, its nice for us to remember our childhood days and how our parents brought us up. 

We’re a weird and creative family so it only felt fitting that we highlight the two people that made us. 

2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)? 

This song is about memories of the past and that voice inside your head wondering if the best days have already passed you by. 

Our parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer and they’re taking a trip down memory lane. We’ve been reflecting on their best days as a family lately and, well, they are ultimately responsible for the creation of this band/sibling music project. So this visualizer is a bit of a thank you to them and also a showcase of the two people we came from. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

I somehow convinced my parents to have a dance party in their yard. They’re both goofy and fun and weird like my brother and I, so it was an easy ask. After I saved the recording, my talented friend Steve Niilo edited and effected the clips using his magic computer skills. My brother and I like to collaborate with friends and local artists as much as possible and we will continue this trend into our next release- coming very soon!
“The ending has samples of our younger family members laughing and shouting ‘best days’ with their entire life ahead of them,” explains Jackie Andrade. “The addition of these samples adds another interesting layer to the song. When were your best days? Childhood? Or are they happening right now?”

Out of the ashes of seclusion and addiction, Mike Repic rises up through desperation to bring a unique, honest and modern sound. Blending pop and rock sensibilities, while not shying away from acoustic, electronic and orchestral nuances, Repic’s songs spark a modern, yet classic approach into the medium. 

Creating dark, thoughtful, sensitive, but ultimately hopeful music with an optimistic narrative, “Alive” is Repic’s triumphant new release. “It’s about walking through hell, only to come out the other side and realize you’re still living in fear. After getting off of drugs I’ve had to give my head a shake and tell myself ‘look at what you’ve gone through in your life, this shouldn’t scare you.’ It’s ultimately an uplifting song to give myself a kick in the ass to not be afraid to go after the things I want in life.”

For 10 years, singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Repic was frontman of acclaimed Canadian rock band 40 Sons. Now venturing on his own, he is tapping into new sounds, with a new spirit, and a new range of musical ideas while maintaining his focus on recovery and enlightenment. 

Originally from Uxbridge, Ontario, Tom Hanley began his musical journey as the singer/guitarist in a slew of pop punk bands with “terrible names,” performing at high school parties. It was there he fell in love with playing in bands and writing music. In college, he started a six-piece funk band, JUICE, recording and touring for eight years. After years of deliberation, countless wedding band gigs, and 60 songs written later, he’s ready to go off on his own and release music as a solo artist. 

Tom teamed up with songwriter and producer, Nixon Boyd (Hollerado, Dizzy), and wrote the song “Take It Away” over Zoom together.

“Take It Away” is about the rising cost of living in Toronto and in Canada in general, and how tough it has been for our generation to get a foothold. With rent, gas and housing prices skyrocketing, countless artists, families, venues and businesses have been forced to close or leave Toronto to seek more affordable alternatives. In Tom’s opinion, this has been a major contributing factor to the erosion of Toronto’s artistic community and has taken a serious toll on the mental health of young people today. 

“This song makes me want to go out and do something to change how our country is being run,” says Tom Hanley. “To change the narrative we are telling the next generation. What they should work towards and the path they should take because it’s not leading to the same results that it did even ten years ago.”

A tough-sensitive singer-songwriter from northern Ontario, Ray Henderson combines the darkness of Johnny Cash, the storytelling of Kris Kristofferson with the gravitas of John Prine. Equal parts country, roots rock, blues and gospel, Henderson’s debut full-length album captures his lightning in a bottle.

Broke Down in Bala emerged from Toronto’s open mic scene where Henderson is a regular. Back in the ‘90s, he would drive down to the Free Times Cafe in Toronto every Monday from Muskoka. Returning in 2022, he met musician and producer Loren Davie who agreed to produce Broke Down in Bala, the first release on the Toronto-based epijam label. Now the world can hear Henderson’s music, poignant at times and raucous at others. 

The focus track “Voice” came to Henderson in a dream. “I saw my lady across the water,” he explains. “She was looking for me and calling my name but couldn’t hear my reply. My voice was gone because…I guess I just didn’t fit in with the real musicians and naysayers… my own underconfidence. Then I met the positive lady in the song, so it was her belief in me that gave me strength and just kept me writing.”

Broke Down in Bala is the resurrection of 11 songs, inspired by lessons learned on the ride of life. Many were written up to 25 years ago, but Henderson had put them aside, not feeling confident in them. Then, in the summer of 2023, as he sat in the park with friends from the open mic scene, he dusted off some of his older material, and, encouraged by them, decided to give it another shot. 

Introducing Hearsing, the brainchild of Avery Murphy and Jordan Taylor, a musical project deeply rooted in their shared journey from high school to professional stardom. Their musical odyssey began within the confines of high school corridors, where they co-founded the surf punk ensemble SUBPAR alongside Lukas Henderson and Austin Corona. Since then, these talented individuals have embarked on their own notable ventures in the music scene, spanning projects like LILACS, Jean Dawson, and Lizzy McAlpine. Their new single “Silicon Prairie,” the second release off of their upcoming album “Pastoral,” debuts a haunting and harmonious nostalgic indie sound from the group. 

In March of 2021, Hearsing unveiled their inaugural offering—a self-titled collection of home-recorded tracks that served as a precursor to their burgeoning musical expedition. However, it is in the year 2024 that they truly come into their own, as they unleash their debut professional studio EP, aptly titled “Pastoral.” Recorded under the meticulous guidance of producer and singer-songwriter Henry Chadwick, whose impressive repertoire includes collaborations with esteemed acts like Jesse Daniel and Coffis Brothers, “Pastoral” encapsulates the essence of Hearsing‘s artistic evolution. Additionally, the EP features the deft drumming of Ellington Peet, known for his work with bands like Runnner and Babehoven, adding a layer of dynamism to the sonic landscape.What sets “Pastoral” apart is not just its impeccable production or the pedigree of its collaborators, but the sheer depth of emotion and creativity that permeates each track. From the wistful nostalgia of “Montauk” to the infectious energy of “Hearsing,” the EP traverses a diverse sonic terrain, seamlessly blending elements of surf punk, indie rock, and Americana to create a sound that is both timeless and refreshing.As Hearsing prepares to embark on the next phase of their musical journey, their sights set on conquering new horizons and captivating audiences around the globe, they invite listeners to join them on this exhilarating ride. With “Montauk” serving as the harbinger of their sonic expedition, Hearsing is poised to make an indelible mark on the musical landscape, one soul-stirring melody at a time.